There’s just something about European style that we Americans can’t get enough of. Even when they’re wearing something casual and low-key, the fashion people of Paris, London, Milan, Stockholm, and other cities always seem to dress with a certain polish—and I’ll go to the ends of the internet in search of ways to re-create their looks myself. In fact, I recently did just that, and I figured I’d share my findings with you here.
Let’s start with jeans, the one item I know every one of us has in their closets right now. Europeans may be known for their sophisticated style, but they’re no strangers to good denim. The main difference in American and European denim outfits, I’ve noticed, is in how they are styled. I scrolled through the Instagram feeds of stylish Europeans for a few solid hours and can confirm that right now, the secret sauce for their denim ensembles all comes down to a handful of very specific wardrobe basics. Here, discover the items that Europeans from Paris to Stockholm are wearing with jeans now, and shop the key pieces.